The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-14
Posr-DELLuM INCIDENTS.
Anew Oddities Developed by Visit to
the War I apartment.

As Star reporter entered the Office
Of War Department official the other
day, he was struck by the appearance
and voice OF a visitor who was just TAX
ing his leave. He was heavy-set man,
with an intelligent face, dark brown
hair and heavy mustache, and appar-
emily between As and 80 years of age.
The reporters first impression was that
he was a military officer of some promi-
nence, but as he bade the official good
day" there was very perceptible for
eign accent in his speech.
"Was that an army ofllcer?" asked
che reporter after the door had closed
upon the departing visitor.
NO." replied the official, 81 never
saw him before that know of, but ho
has lust related TO me very interesting
story"
al am Just in the humor for n story"
said the reporter.
"Well, my visitor is n Swede. Dur
ing the rebellion he left his home IN
Sweden, young man. to come to this
country to fight for lily. He was a
man of means, and was actuated simply
by heroic motives. Upon arriving here
he at once enlisted in New York regi-
ment and was sent South His regi-
ment, as / remember it. was rather
hard one, composed mainly of French
and Germans, of pretty rough class,
with officers not much better AT New
Orleans the young Swede's abilities were
quickly recognized, and he was given
clerical work. In q short tune he was
taken very ill with chronic diarrhea,
and when almost at deaths door he was
shipped north on sixty-days furlough.
That was in the summer. he did not
improve much, and as cold weather APP
preached the doctors advised him to
seek a warmer climate. He was entire
ly ignorant Of military regulations, and
being DESTROYS only Of saving his life
he made his way, he says, to Havana.
There he was under the care OF physi-
rian who was IN some way connected
,..ch the United States Consulate. BY
the time he regained his health the war
was over. | think he then went back
to Sweden; at any rate he didn't return
to this country again until q few days
ago. when he came to New York to
engage in business Imagine his sur
prise when he leal ed that his name IS
recorded as that of deserter. His
mission here is to clear himself
of that stigma, so that he can
enter business with an unstained repu
tation. He says that he never received
cent from the government when he
was in the army, and did / y even get
his bounty money. He doe 81 care for
that, though, he says all he wants is to
have his name cleared. l don't know
anything about the truth or falsity OF
his story, but he tells it very straight.
He will have to bring affidavits and
other proofs to establish 1t Uefore his
case can be acted upon. only give you
the story as he related it to me Just
now.
~ suppose you have many strange war
Incidents brought to your attention"
suggested the reporter.
"Oh, yes, lots OF them," was the re-
ply. II have in mind now the case of q
man who was reported as killed in
action, but who turned up few years
ago at reunion of his regiment like n
ghost among his comrades, who had
never heard word about him since the
memorable battle when he was shot. 1t
was at the second battle of Bull Run,
think. He was cavalryman, and rode
in the front ranks in n charge. lilo was
shot from his horse at the beginning OF
the charge, and the whole regiment
passed over him. There was no doubt
about his death, and that his body
was not found occasioned NJ surprise.
As he tells the story, he knew moth
ing until he regained conscious
ness, two or three months later, out in
Michigan, being cared for by some
strangers who had taken him in. He
was a physical wreck. and when l saw
him he looked like regular Quilp.
He was all twisted and torn out OF
shape as il he had been blown up in o
boiler explosion and patched up after.
wards. He wandered about for several
wears, and finally visited his former
home. He found that his wife, believ-
ing him dead, had married again. He
didn trouble her, Int continued trav-
cling about until finally he gained the
friendship Of well-to-do man, and
with him he made his home, finally
marrying one OF his daughters. After
his appearance at the reunion OF his reg"
iment he brought his case before the
department TO have his record cor
rected and to secure the pension which
La olnir,,nd ON nccnnnt Of his wnnndsn